The festival was in full-swing last night, with 18 venues featuring close to 90 bands, many of them filled to capacity. Everything we made it to was fantastic.
Laura Gibson played the Doug Fir, with a set including some great new material that she finished recording this summer, and a hush fell over an otherwise typically chatty crowd.
MP3: Laura Gibson (with Portland Cello Project) - Hand in Pockets
MP3: Laura Gibson - Shake Sugaree (Podington Bear Remix)
MP3: Laura Gibson - All the Pretty Horses
Former Portlander Alela Diane made a rare return visit from her native Nevada City, CA, for a packed-out show at Berbati's. Those in the crowd who weren't texting their buddies while waiting for "the rock to come back" were happily soaking in a fantastic artist they hadn't heard yet, or were singing along, word-for-word.
MP3: Alela Diane - To Be Still (Podington Bear Remix)
MP3: Alela Diane - The Rifle
MP3: Alela Diane - Tatted Lace
TV on the Radio, for sure one of the festival's biggest reasons to buy a wristband, played a high-energy set at the high-security (as in metal detector, frisking, can-I-see-your-passport?) Roseland Theater.
LISTEN: TV on the Radio myspace
And, from the festival's biggest venue to possibly its smallest, we then went to finish the evening with Boy Eats Drum Machine, the one-man band, in the truest sense of the phrase, of Portland native Jonny Ragel. With just the smallest assistance from his laptop, he sings, plays drums and baritone sax, and uses cuts of vinyl to create his live sound, which despite being just one man, is anything but sparse. He's definitely worth seeing live, and Booomboxxx, his third album which is due out in October on Tender Loving Empire, is his strongest to date.
MP3: Boy Eats Drum Machine - Demonic with Horns
MP3: Boy Eats Drum Machine - From an Oregon Shore (with Laura Gibson)
MP3: Boy Eats Drum Machine - Eunuch
-DCusick
Much earlier in the evening, Spoon's Britt Daniel took the stage in front a capacity crowd that was hot and sweaty to begin with, let alone after Daniel tore through his band's back catalog. He was joined halfway through for a superstar indie duo throwdown by (ex-Sleater-Kinney, current Jicks and Quasi drummer) Janet Weiss, who helped out with a couple of new songs plus a stunning cover of The Cure's "Other Voices," which saw Daniel back himself up on bass. 
Following Daniel, it was time for "Built to Spill Playing Perfect From Now On," a spectacle for which this writer thought he was prepared. I hail from the same Idaho as Built to Spill, you see, and my musical education has been filled with their live heroics: I claim a 1999 Salt Lake City BTS show to be perhaps the greatest I've ever seen, I saw "Twin Falls" performed in Twin Falls, I know Built to Spill.
But it had been a while, and if Doug Martsch cared about such things, one might see the resurrection of their 1997 gem Perfect From Now On as a re-laying down of the musical gauntlet, as if to say, "What you're doing now is fine, but did you forget what we showed you we could do long before you even thought about being a band?" But Martsch doesn't care about such things, so it was just a band of older dudes ripping through epic songs with a ferocity and freshness that was truly something to witness, "Randy Described Eternity," to "Untrustable," plus a few extras thrown in for the encore. 
One of the hardest-working musicians around, John Vanderslice also has a reputation for being one of the nicest. He followed Lackthereof at the Crystal Ballroom with a tight set of songs culled largely from last year's Emerald City, with the exception of a new song that got a big response when it name-dropped Mt. Hood. Listen for Vanderslice soon as part of an upcoming opbmusic in-studio session. 
A couple of things stood out with Vampire Weekend's closing set at the Crystal Ballroom. First, they deliever an undeniably entertaining live show with the kind of songs that go over well with an audience; second, the kids love them some Vampire Weekend, so much so that it moved many to mosh like it was 1993 (ironically the year many of them were born). Scores of teenagers sang along in unison to lines about Peter Gabriel, whoever he was. 
One more cross-town trip left us at the Doug Fir for Crooked Fingers' closing set. A star-studded audience (Britt Daniel to the left of me, Bobby Bare, Jr. to my right) saw Eric Bachmann's band perform new material from the upcoming Forfeit/ Fortune (out October 7th) as well as older tunes like "New Drink for the Old Drunk." Old fans or otherwise couldn't have asked for a better set from Bachmann, who showcased all sides of his music. 
-JPetersen
A whole lot more photos from night 3 are here or here.
There's a whole of action left, check back here tomorrow for tonight's finale...
September 6, 2008 at 4:53pm by grasshopper
I'd like to hear more instrumentals on this show. Listening to your take on the local scene, one might be led to think that only songs with vocals are in vogue here in the Portland-area scene, and I'd beg to seriously differ. Can this show reflect more of what's going on here?
September 6, 2008 at 5:38pm by Jeremy Petersen
We certainly don't claim to represent Portland music in all of its forms, but we do play instrumental tracks here and there (it's just far from our focus). The latest Ratatat and Talkdemonic albums come to mind. Something specific you'd like to hear?
September 7, 2008 at 3:06pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Good Sunday JP,
Recovery from the 4 day fest is underway, by the 4th night I was knackered. I hear very few all instrumental bands in my many many listens to local bands... unless it's jazz, techno or ambient, which is for other streams I suppose. The challenge for the many is having a vocalist of enough distinction to stand out, or a lyrical content smart enough to engage. an example of the latter was Super XX Man, and of the former - and btw - my vocal performance of the fest - Chelsea of The Dirty Mittens.
September 7, 2008 at 3:29pm by Jeremy Petersen
Agreed on the Super XX Man lyrical front- nice new album coming up form them, too. And how about the endorsement for Chelsea-- that's high praise. And what gets your set of the fest award?
September 7, 2008 at 3:37pm by zed
Evening JP,
Another fine show. Thanks. Say, I'd love to hear something from the new Brian Wilson LP, but if we're sticking to acts from MFNW, perhaps some Menomena?
September 7, 2008 at 3:41pm by Jeremy Petersen
Ashamed to say we don't have anything from Brian Wilson, but thanks for bringing it up. Soon, hopefully. MFNW is old news, like 20 hours past, no need to stick there. Thought I might get to your long lost request for John Prine, though.
September 7, 2008 at 3:48pm by zed
That'll do just fine. :--]
September 7, 2008 at 3:49pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
I remember hearing John Prine when I was a young pubescent lad and being shocked, I had never considered 'folk' music worth listening to. I don't remember the song, but it was about drug use and damage. Is he still making music?
I will be writing a review of my MFNW experience, highs and lows, the best set I experienced, and the best since Catherine Wheel perhaps 5 years ago, was Finn Riggins.
September 7, 2008 at 3:55pm by Jeremy Petersen
Wow, Finn Riggins, the little band from Idaho that could. I knew them when!
September 7, 2008 at 4:08pm by Jeremy Petersen
Yeah, I think you're talking about "Sam Stone" as far as that Prine song about drug use, oh by the way-- Laura Cantrell did a stunning version of it a couple of years back, too. I think my favorite of his has always been "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore."
September 7, 2008 at 4:36pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
You are right. Like a library with a voice :).
I would like to hear that Laura Cantrell version someday, and have to admit, despite that adolescent revelation, I went off into Dylan, ELP & the Kinks and never have known John Prine (another JP...) well. The late, great John Peel did (very) occasionally play him.
So Zed, are you wondering, as I am, what the Prine track will be?
September 7, 2008 at 4:43pm by Jeremy Petersen
Wish granted: Ms. Cantrell just for you (and for me, too).
September 7, 2008 at 4:58pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Excellent, the John Prine selection shows tthat he kept it up. No doubt he's not self-impressed - such a battle for all, even greats.
Celilo - another ... PDX band worth investigating??
Now, on the first Sunday that you haven't said "Thanks for staying up late" I find I'm done.
goodnight.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
September 7, 2008 at 5:01pm by Jeremy Petersen
Well thanks as always for the tireless participation-- and thanks for staying up late :)
Celilo's new EP is solid, indeed.....
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